MY FAVOURITE CARDS OF 2011

Hello everyone. Hope you are all having a nice weekend. Blimey it's cold out there isn't it!!! must admit I have been curled up in my little bungalow with the heating on all day with the furbabies. 

Ok, I haven't finished cards yet today to show but I thought I would show you my favourite cards of 2011. I didn't think I would find it had to narrow it down but surprisingly I did. I notice a lot of you have been showing off your cards so thought I would follow suit, although i'm probably late as usual!!!. So here goes. 

It is so weird to think of how fast 2011 came and went as doesn't seem that long ago since I was making these cards. 

Thanks for stopping by and I really love and appreciate you comments.

Best wishes Clare xxx

NEW SOMETHING

Aren't these two House Mouse character's just the cutest!!!. I am definitely addicted to HM stamps now and building up quite a nice collection. I made this card for  House Mouse and Friends challenge #110 which is to create something to celebrate which is new to you ie, new beginnings, new baby, new job, new hobby, new stash!!! anything basically that is new. So my "new" to my card is this stamp set which I got just before Christmas and this stamp has never been used before.

I HAVE USED

WHITE & YELLOW BAZZILL CARD STOCK

HOUSE MOUSE STAMP FROM BIRTHDAY SET

OCTOBER AFTERNOON "FARM FRESH-FARMHOUSE" CARD

RIBBON, SENTIMENT, BLING & BRADS FROM STASH

FLEXMARKERS

I am so happy that I have got back into blogging and card making. I have been a good girl and sticking to my resolutions to blog often and catch up with my friends. Finding it very theraputic. Right back to the craft room!!!.

Big hugs Clare xxx

Especially for You

Hello everyone. Hope you are all well on this Thursday Evening. It has been soooo nice seeing the sun today for a change. I even opened a few windows up!!!.

I have made this card for one of my lovely friends, just to let her know I am thinking of her. I used one of my favourite LOTV stamps.

I USED

White linen cardstock

Prima "Jack & Jill" collection paper's

LOTV stamp

Daisy & Dandelion sentiment tag

Bling, ribbon & flower from stash

Spellbinders Floral Doily Motif Shapeabilities

Promarkers & Flexmarkers

Antique Linen Distressed ink pad

Thank you for popping by my lovelies xxx

Loving my Polka Doodles!!!

Just made this card for one of my lovely friends for her recent Birthday. I am so loving Polka Doodle stamps at the moment as one of my gorgeous friends got me one of the sets for Christmas.

I USED

Craftwork Cards 8x8 White Card

White & Red Linen Card

Doodlebug red & White Polka Dot Paper

Polka Doodles Stamp Set

Pebbles "Happy Birthday" rub on

MSE "To a Special Friend" rub on

Kaiser bling

Vintage Photo Distressed Ink Pad

Promarkers & Flexmarkers

Stickles (Eucalyptus & Diamond) 

Hope all of my lovely friends are well and settling into 2012.

Big hugs Clare xxx

Baby Card

Just wanted to share this card with you that I made for my lovely friend Lizzie who has just given birth to her beautiful baby girl Isabella.

I HAVE USED

Craftwork cards 8x8 white card

Red Bazzill card
Funstamps "Baby Bear with Rattle" Stamp
Paper makeup "Little Baby" sentiment Stamp
Floral Doily Motifs Shapeabilities
Red Gingham paper, bling, hatpin, red ribbon and baby charm from stash
Promarkers & Flexmarkers (Tan, Sandstone, Pastel Pink & Antique White)
Worn Lipstick Distress Ink Pad 
Ranger Glossy Accents

Just want to say a very big thank you to all of my beautiful bloggy family for such a lovely and warm welcome back. 

Thanks for stopping by

Hugs Clare xxx

Some Christmas Makes

Just wanted to share some Christmas cards which I made.

Thanks for popping by xxx

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! I am hoping and praying big time that 2012 is going to be a much better year and I for one was glad to see the back of 2011.

Well I know that it has been a long long time since I last blogged and you were probably wondering if I was ever coming back!!!. I ended up taking a much longer break than I had expected which I will try to explain as briefly as I can.

I had my kidney op which went well but ended up being more involved than just removing the stones. He ended up just doing my right hand side and when I went back for my post-op he has decided to leave my right side for the time being unless it gives me any problems. About 3 weeks ago I ended up having another kidney stone flare up on the side which was operated on which was a big shock as I thought that was the whole purpose of the bloody op, grrr!!!. I am leaving it for the time being as I am hoping it was a one off fluke. If I get any more flares I know I will have to get back in touch with the surgeon so finger's crossed.

After the operation I got really sick which ended up being sourced to the Methotrexate injections I was giving myself for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. All of my bloods were all over the place, I couldn't eat and kept being sick. The best thing was was losing over a stone in weight!!!. I know that is a real typical female thing to say lol!. Once I had come off the drug I gradually got better but I am now not on any drugs for my Rheumatoid, just anti-inflammatories, steroids and strong painkillers. I went to see my Rheumatologist just before Christmas and he wants me on another drug trial which I am waiting to hear about at the moment. I have had to go up on my steroids and had joint injections just to try control the RA flare up's in the meantime. I have had another bad weekend and been in bed for most of it hardly being able to walk. I'm feeling a bit better today but still high on the morphine!!!.

Enough health stuff. I do hope that everyone was thoroughly spoilt at Christmas time. I was very lucky with some yummy crafty gear, a printer, some new red and white polka dot kitchen wares, money, CD's, smellies, lots more.........I just want to share these cute pic's of Bert & Simone with their new Christmas baskets;

 JUST COULD NOT RESIST THE POLKA DOTS!!!

Both furbabies were thoroughly spoilt!!!. They got the big red doggy bone mattress too, a lovely fleecy mat and new blankets along with lots of toys and treats. 

So 2012 has kicked off to a good crafty start. I have been having a big craft room spring clean and have had to be really brutal and throw out loads of things I am not using, a big cull!!!. It is not all bad though as what my Mother-in-Law does not want I will donate to the hospice. I have been having a play with some gorgeous new stamps and bits I received for Christmas and even made a Christmas card for the first challenge for our Christmas Card Club (see the side bar for details). I am going to show my cards in some seperate posts so stay tuned.

I do hope everyone remember's me and does not think I have deserted you all!!!. I will pop over to everyone's blogs so bear with me.

With love and big, big hugs Clare xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

SIGNING OFF FOR A LITTLE WHILE.........

Yep it's the day of my operation so just wanted to fit in a post. I would like to apologise for not posting earlier but life has been mad of late. Time seems to be flying past so quickly it is scary. 

Just wanted to let you all know that both of the fundraiser's went amazingly!!!!. Firstly the MacMillan Trust managed to raise £557.00 and at the weekend the coffee morning for St.Wilfred's Hospice raised over £450.00. Just waiting on those final figure's. Both events had a fantastic turn out and everyone had a great time.

On Sunday Willow, Brian and Monica had to (very reluctantly) go back to WRAS where they will spend the Winter together to fatten up and grow for next year. They will be able to be released safely March/April time 2012. Me, Bert and Simone are missing them so much but I have been assured that more babies will be on their way once I get over my op. Just want to share some pics I took last week to show just how much they have grown!!!.

Aren't they precious babies!!!. I feel so lucky to have been part of raising them and know they have been given a much better chance a survival.

Well I have my bags packed and have been reassured by Dad and Martin that the furbabies (and spikey garden one's!) are going to be well looked after in my absence. I feel so relieved as Martin is going to be staying here at the house so I know he will look out for Dad too. 

So im going to say ciao for now and will be back as soon as I can. I will be back card making before I know it. Just going to leave you with a couple of cards I made this week.

Godbless Clare xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KERYN!!!

I meant to post this comment yesterday so I am a day late celebrating Keryn's Birthday on my blog!!!. I obviously did speak to her yesterday though so i'm sure she will forgive me. Just wanted to share the card I made for my beautiful friend.

I used one of my new House Mouse stamps which I managed to get from EBAY. I also used my new yummy Flex Marker's. Everything else on my card was used from my stash. 

Keryn, thank you for being one of the bestest friend's a person can have. You have been brilliant, especially over the past few weeks which have been really hard. You have always been there for me. Love you mate xxxxxxxxxx

CHRIS' CHRISTMAS CLUB CARD CHALLENGE!!!

Hello everyone hoping you are all fit and well. I'm still being kept busy with those gorgeous little hedgehogs and found out today that I will be keeping them until 6th October, the day before my operation. Going to have to make the most of them. Will upload more pic's this week. Can't believe how quickly they are growing!!.

It was Chris' challenge this last fortnight for the Christmas Club and it was "anything goes" which was really nice, no pressure you know!. This is my card.

I really love this LOTV stamp and used it in my last challenge but decided to 3D it. I glittered it up a bit too and used MMI "Colourful Christmas" backing paper.

If you look on my sidebar you can click on the other girls blogs to see their cards. If you would like to join our little Christmas Club please feel free to message one of us and come aboard. It's great as it certainly gets you ahead on your Christmas cards and the challenges are once a fortnight. We are a real friendly group of gals and our motto is to have fun!!!.

Thanks for popping by!

Lots of love Clare xxxx

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO MEET WILLOW, BRIAN AND MONICA!!!

This is why I have not been around a lot!!! I am looking after these dear little baby hedgehog's (sorry hoglets!) who lost their Mum and I am having to bottle feed them as they should still be feeding off her. They are the most adorable little babies you could meet and these are the youngest I have ever handled. 

As you can imagine they are real little time waster's too!!!. I have had so many visitor's who have wanted to come see them the past few day's. They are a pretty rare sight to see so really wanted to share them with you and will be updating you with picture's. 

Ummm yes, they are standing in their food eating!!!. They have not quite grasped the concept of manner's yet. I am trying to get them used to solid food which is why it is there so it is all a learning process for them. I tell you what I am getting through so many baby wipes!!!.

Promise to be back soon with more photo's and updates so bear with me. I am still trying to make cards for the fundraiser's in between the feeds, cleaning them and everything else in my life!. 

Nite nite xxxx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL MUM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MUM IN THE WORLD................... 

I miss you each and every day, some day's even more and especially on days like today so we can all celebrate together.

Me, Dad and Martin sat around in your garden this afternoon and talked about old times, shed a few tears and managed a few laugh's. We placed your Birthday card on your tree with gifts and flower's surrounding your memorial. 

I wanted to make a special card with the colours and things you liked. I knew you would love this cute little House Mouse image!!!.

Mum I really hope you are having a kick arse 71st Birthday party where you are right now surrounded by family and friends and also showing Matthew how it's done in heaven!!!.

Love you so much Mum xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A BOX OF TOADSTOOLS!!!

I am trying to get some card box sets done which always seem to be good little seller's at charity events. My gorgeous friend KERYN made some beautiful box sets last year for my first St.Wilfred's Hospice fundraiser and they sold so quickly so I was determined to give it a go. Put it this way if they do not sell like Keryn's I will be getting her to do them in future lol!!!.

I wanted to keep the cards fairly simple with different everyday messages on them. The little toadstool stamp is by KARS and the fern is a Woodware punch. The greeting's are just tiny peel off's from my stash.

I am working on another little box set but not sure yet what the theme will be, think I will sleep on it as im tired!!!.

Thanks for stopping by, I really appreciate your comments and feedback is welcomed big time. 

Love and hugs Clare xxx

TOGETHER FOREVER

Another card creation for charity featuring this lovely LOTV stamp. Everything else on the card I used from my stash.


Hope everyone is having a good Tuesday.
Thanks for popping by xxxxxxxxxxx

CARD AND A HALF SKETCH CHALLENGE #4

Hi everyone. Hope we are all well and not freezing cold like me!!! I can't seem to get warm today, may even have to resort to my red and white polka dot hot water bottle later!!!.

Well there is only one more day left to get your card sketch in for this month's  Card and a Half challenge but there is still time. The sketch this month was designed by  Scraptherapy who are also the proud sponsors of this month's challenge.

Lee-Anne and Danny are giving away a $25 on-line gift voucher from their store and Helen has also put up a little goody prize pack.  

As well as using the sketch as a basis Lee-Anne is also asking to add texture to our cards ie, embossing, textured paper's or cardstock, glitter, gems, ribbon etc.

This is my card;

INGREDIENTS

BAZZILL BASICS WHITE DOT CARD

RED & WHITE LINEN CARD

HOUSE MOUSE BIRTHDAY'S ICE CREAM STAMP SET

CRAFTWORK CARDS SENTIMENT

RED RAFFIA LACE

BOW FROM STASH

PROMARKERS

SPELLBINDERS SCALLOP CIRCLE

Go check out the Card and a Half Blog as a new extra challenge has just gone up!!!. 

Hugs Clare xxx

A BEAR SHARE!!!

I am busy making cards at the moment for the forthcoming charity fundraiser's ahead for MacMillan Cancer and St.Wilfred's Hospice. It is good as it has given me a kick up the bum and I have a little conveyer belt of stamping images, colouring, cutting etc going on. I am trying to make at least a couple of each style card to bring the number's up. So I am going to be sharing cards with you over the coming weeks which I am going to be making for these wonderful charities.

INGREDIENTS

CRAFTWORK CARD BLANKS

WHITE & POWDER BLUE LINEN CARD

LOTV BBQ BEAR STAMP

CRAFTWORK SENTIMENT

PAPERS, RIBBON & BRADS FROM STASH

FLEXMARKER PENS

SPELLBINDERS FLORAL DOILIES

Nite, nite all xxxxxxxxxxx

Margaret's all White With Glitter Card Deadline!!!!!!

Hi All!. Hope everyone is well on this wet and windy Sunday afternoon. Hard to believe another fortnight has passed since the last Christmas Card Club challenge deadline. It was Margaret's turn and she chose an all white card with glitter. This is my take on it;

Hoping i am not breaking the rules with having a stamped image with obvious black outlining!!!!.

INGREDIENTS

WHITE LINEN CARD

LOTV POLAR BEAR STAMP

SPELLBINDER'S FLEUR DE LIS SQUARE'S NESTIES 

PRIMA JEWEL

BUTTON, RIBBON & SENTIMENT FROM STASH

My life is pretty busy at the moment as i am busy making cards for the St.Wifred's coffee morning on 1st October and in the week i was asked to help out for the MacMillan Nurses coffee morning on 24th September. 

I have found out that my operation has been scheduled for 7th October and that i have got to have the op twice as they will only do one side of the kidney at a time, great!!!. 

I still have my beautiful Murdoch the hedgehog who i am nursing. He ended up having another operation on his leg (or stump!) as it kept getting infected so the vet has now put staples in which seems to be doing the trick. I have got to look after him for another 2 weeks then he will go back to have the staples removed. Poor little bugger now has a skin infection so i am having to spray him in oil daily!!! he is not a happy hoggy at having this done and turns into a miniature rottweiler!!!. Will put up some more pic's of him shortly.

On Friday i am going to be looking after 3 baby squirrel's and possibly 3 baby newborn hedgehogs. The lady i deal with is going on holiday for 7 days and she has asked if i am up to looking after them. I am so excited guys and my camera will be doing overtime lol. It is good though as it is all keeping my mind occupied from the not so nice things happening in life. 

Ok will be back soon.

Love to you all, Clare xxxxxxxxxxxx

SYLVIE'S CCC MISTLETOE CHALLENGE

Made my first card in about a month and I am now up to date with the Christmas Card Club challenges. It was the gorgeous SYLVIE'S turn and she chose the theme of a card with mistletoe on.

I used this cute little Penny Black stamp along with a House Mouse sentiment from one of their Christmas sets. The red polka dot pp is from Echo Park and the mistletoe pp is from Do Crafts. 

The following fortnight's challenge is by our lovely Margaret and the theme is white with a bit of glitter. If you click HERE you will see Margaret's stunning take on her challenge.

If anyone would like to come and take part in the Christmas Club just message any one of us girls and go check out our lovely group which is featured in my sidebar. 

Thanks for stopping by guys.

Big hugs Clare xxx

KERRY'S CHRISTMAS CARD CHALLENGE

I'm finding it really hard getting back into the swing of life at the moment. I haven't even thought about card making the past 3 weeks but I made a bit of a breakthrough tonight, I think. 

I had a little dabble and began to make one of the latest cards for The Christmas Card Club challenges. I had already made the one below but have not yet blogged it. The lovely Kerry had her chance to set the challenge which was holly, a robin and the option of a letter box. 

Well it is kind of close!!! definitely some holly, the bird could be a robin and it could be a fancy letterbox!!!. I tried anyway. I love this stamp from LOTV and one of my Christmas favourite's.

I really need to get back into lots of creating as on 1st October me and Wendy are hoping to have another coffee morning to raise money for St.Wilfred's Hospice. If anyone out there is able to spare a card or two to donate for the hospice please just email me on earlygirl1@hotmail.co.uk and I can give you further details and my address.

I will be back very soon as I need to get lots of creating going on. I will also do updates on the hedgies and my lovely painted bungalow!!!.

Lots of love to you all and remember to tell the special people in your lives how much you love them xxxxxxxxxxxxxx